W. Va. Code R. § 64-48-2 - [Effective 8/1/2025] Definitions

2.1. Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) -- A person licensed as an Advanced Emergency Medical Technician.

2.2. Advanced Life Support (ALS) -- A level of EMS which includes, but is not limited to, the assessment, treatment, and transportation of sick and injured persons, invasive and non-invasive medical procedures, the administration of medications and BLS procedures as approved for the appropriate level of licensure by the OEMS Medical Direction System.

2.3. Air Ambulance -- An aircraft configured and medically equipped to transport patients by air. The patient care compartment of air medical ambulances shall be staffed by a licensed medical crew meeting the requirements of this rule.

2.4. Agency Medical Director -- A West Virginia licensed physician who meets the requirements of subdivision 9.1.1. of this rule, and accepts responsibility for providing medical oversight, medical performance review, and extending privilege to practice to a licensed EMS agency and its personnel under the guidelines established by OEMS.

2.5. Basic Life Support (BLS) -- A level of EMS which includes, but is not limited to, assessment, treatment, and transportation of sick and injured persons, including medical procedures, the administration of limited medications, basic life-saving procedures, and continuous medical supervision as approved for the appropriate level of licensure by the OEMS Medical Direction System.

2.6. Certification -- The process by which a person acquires a license as an EMS personnel for a level in which he or she is not currently certified in this state.

2.7. Certification Transfer -- The issuance of licensure through reciprocity, legal recognition, or equivalency based on prior training, certification, or licensure in another state, commonwealth, territory, or the United States military.

2.8. Communications Center -- A facility that receives calls for emergency assistance and dispatches the appropriate responders to EMS incidents for a particular geographic area. These facilities include, but are not limited to 9-1-1 centers, stand-alone dispatch centers, and other public safety answering points.

2.9. Community Paramedic -- A person licensed as a Community Paramedic.

2.10. Community Paramedicine -- A type of non-emergent ALS service where direct care is provided without transport.

2.11. CPR - Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation.

2.12. Criminal history background check -- A report from a criminal history record system maintained by federal or state governmental agencies that is based on fingerprint identification.

2.13. Critical Care Transport -- A level of sophisticated, specialized medical care and transportation requiring specifically trained, skilled, and equipped personnel operating under guidelines established by the OEMS Medical Direction System.

2.14. Data System -- An electronic system designated by OEMS for the collection, storage, and retrieval of all information relating to the provision of EMS including, but not limited to, electronic patient care records, emergency medical services toolkits, medical command data, and other specialized data collections.

2.15. Director of the Office of Emergency Medical Services, OEMS Director, or Director -- The Director of OEMS within the Department of Health.

2.16. Disaster -- A natural or man-made occurrence which creates need for the provision of EMS which exceeds the capacity of prompt provision of care or transportation by the EMS providers in the immediate area of the occurrence.

2.17. Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD) -- A person licensed as an Emergency Medical Dispatcher.

2.18. Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) -- A person licensed as an Emergency Medical Responder.

2.19. Emergency Medical Service Agency or EMS agency - A person or entity licensed to provide EMS.

2.20. Emergency Medical Services Vehicle (EMS vehicle) -- EMS transportation vehicles including: ambulances, air ambulances, and other patient transportation vehicles, and non-transporting, medically equipped vehicles operated by licensed EMS agencies as described in this rule. EMS vehicles include any private or publicly owned vehicle or craft intended to provide on-scene EMS or patient transportation.

2.21. Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) -- A person licensed as an Emergency Medical Technician.

2.22. Emergency Medical Vehicle Operator (EMVO) -- A person licensed as an Emergency Medical Vehicle Operator.

2.23. Incident -- An event which generates a request to provide EMS assessment, treatment, or transportation by EMS agencies and personnel. Incidents include, but are not limited to 9-1-1 response, non-emergency transportation, inter-facility transport, patient refusals of care, no care needed or provided, and standby in support of other emergency responses or emergency events.

2.24. Inspector -- A person authorized by OEMS to inspect EMS agencies, vehicles, training institutions, or other facilities as necessary.

2.25. Investigator -- A person authorized by OEMS to conduct investigations on behalf of the Secretary.

2.26. Local System -- A coordinated arrangement of resources organized to provide emergency ambulance service within a defined geographical area. The systems are provided under the authority of either a county commission, statutory ambulance authority, or other legislatively established entity charged with the responsibility for providing the service.

2.27. Medical Command Center -- A designated facility staffed by paramedic communications specialists, operating under medical supervision, who provide online advice and direction to EMS personnel for specific EMS incidents regarding treatment, triage, and destination decisions under the guidelines of the EMS Medical Direction System.

2.28. Medical Command Physician (MCP) -- A West Virginia licensed physician operating as part of a medical command center who provides online medical direction to EMS personnel using patient care treatment, triage, and transportation protocols and guidelines approved by OEMS. The MCP has ultimate authority and responsibility for patient care activities provided on a specific EMS incident.

2.29. Medical Direction System -- The aggregate medical resources responsible for the establishment of policies and procedures governing all aspects of the operation of the online and offline medical direction for all EMS activities in West Virginia.

2.30. Medical Facility -- Any hospital, medical clinic, physician's office, or other similar facility, licensed or certified by the appropriate state agency, at which medical care and treatment is available.

2.31. Medical Policy and Care Committee (MPCC) -- The MPCC is composed of each regional medical director and may include physicians representing specialty areas such as pediatrics, trauma, cardiology, and others as necessary. The committee serves as the primary policy making body and advisory body to the State Medical Director concerning medical issues involving the OEMS system. The committee shall meet at least biannually, or more frequently as necessary.

2.32. Mobile Critical Care Nurse (MCCN) -- A person possessing a valid, unrestricted Registered Nurse license in West Virginia who meets OEMS requirements for paramedic certification, who has completed additional state-approved education, and meets other requirements to provide Critical Care Transport.

2.33. Mobile Critical Care Paramedic (MCCP) -- A person licensed as a paramedic who has completed additional state-approved education and meets other requirements to provide Critical Care Transport.

2.34. NEMSIS - The National Emergency Medical System Information System.

2.35. Non-Public EMS Response Entity -- A licensed EMS agency which provides EMS to a specific population and geographic area, including, but not limited to, industrial sites and military operations. The service is not accessible by or available to the general public.

2.36. OEMS -- The Office of Emergency Medical Services as created by statute in W. Va. Code § 16-4C-4.

2.37. Official Representative -- An individual assigned by the licensed EMS agency with signature authority to represent the licensed EMS agency.

2.38. Offline Medical Direction -- The component of medical oversight provided to EMS personnel and agencies including, but not limited to, medical treatment protocols and guidelines, triage protocols, destination protocols, policies and procedures, determination of EMS personnel scopes of practice, privilege to practice, medical command center operation, and other issues of a medical nature.

2.39. Online Medical Direction -- The medical direction given by personnel at an approved Medical Command Center to EMS personnel at the time of an EMS incident, by voice or other means, as established by OEMS protocols and guidelines.

2.40. Paramedic -- A person licensed as a Paramedic.

2.41. PCR - Patient Care Reports.

2.42. Patient Transportation -- Movement or transfer of a patient from any location to another by an EMS vehicle licensed by OEMS.

2.43. Pilot-in-Command -- A person who possesses appropriate Federal Aviation Administration credentials and who, pursuant to this rule, is responsible for the operation of an air ambulance.

2.44. Preliminary criminal history background check -- A report from a criminal history record system maintained by federal or state governmental agencies, the source of which is approved by the Secretary, that is based on a method of positive identification other than fingerprint identification.

2.45. Primary patient caregiver -- A person licensed pursuant to this rule who has primary authority and responsibility for the care of patients with respect to the provision of EMS on a particular EMS incident.

2.46. Privilege to practice -- Authority to perform those skills and procedures defined within the scope of practice established by the OEMS Medical Direction System for a particular level of licensure granted by the agency medical director with concurrence of the State Medical Director.

2.47. Protocol -- A document developed and approved by the MPCC that describes the diagnostic procedures, treatment procedures, medication administration, and patient care practices that shall be completed by EMS personnel within their scope of practice based upon the assessment of a patient, and the scope of practice of the primary patient caregiver.

2.48. Rapid response -- A form of EMS designed to provide an initial response service to improve EMS incident response time and patient outcome. Rapid response services shall be coordinated as part of a local EMS System or licensed EMS agency. Rapid response EMS personnel operating under the OEMS Medical Direction System provide on-scene assessment, intervention, and treatment without patient transportation.

2.49. Recertification -- The process by which EMS personnel renew an EMS certificate for which they are or were licensed in this state.

2.50. Regional EMS Medical Director -- A West Virginia licensed physician, recommended by a regional EMS Board of Directors and by the State Medical Director, appointed by the Secretary to oversee medical aspects of EMS within a particular geographic region of the state.

2.51. SMPMT - Specialized multi-patient medical transport.

2.52. State Medical Director -- A West Virginia licensed physician, board certified in emergency medicine, with substantial experience in emergency medicine, appointed by the Secretary, to oversee all medical aspects of the OEMS.

Notes

W. Va. Code R. § 64-48-2